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NFT: Are the Rangers legitimate contenders?

yankeeslover : 1/20/2022 7:11 am
Long time poster and big Ranger fan, though I do not participate in game threads. For my fellow fans, do you believe as currently constructed that the Rangers have a legitimate shot at a cup? I know lots of good teams in conference this year, but do you guys feel confident at this point in a best of 5, 7 series?
I’m starting feel over confident with Goalie. Almost 2014 vibes where Goalie can go on hot streak. Good times either way, and I think our window is just starting to open.
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Damn right we are  
Anakim : 1/20/2022 7:14 am : link
We have the top goalie in the NHL, the top defenseman in the NHL, excellent special teams, a 1C...

Not a perfect team by any means, but this team could make noise. The Trade Deadline should be very interesting.
Rangers  
Nomad Crow on the Madison : 1/20/2022 7:20 am : link
I have a nephew who, like me, is a huge Rangers fan. Before the season started, he asked me what I thought of the team. I said they would be, by mid-season, one of the top four or five teams in the league. I think they got there earlier than I expected. Can they hold on to that status? I believe they can because they have the goalie who can win games for them. So, yes, I believe they have the talent right now to win a Cup. I worry that Drury will make a trade that upsets the mojo in the room, however. We will see. It's a long season.
yes.  
Victor in CT : 1/20/2022 7:26 am : link
and I think they have room to improve. they're still very young in spots. they have nice balance now of grit and skill. and the key piece, Igor, is in place.
RE: Damn right we are  
pjcas18 : 1/20/2022 7:46 am : link
In comment 15561727 Anakim said:
Quote:
We have the top goalie in the NHL, the top defenseman in the NHL, excellent special teams, a 1C...

Not a perfect team by any means, but this team could make noise. The Trade Deadline should be very interesting.


Cale Makar > Adam Fox
RE: RE: Damn right we are  
Drewcon40 : 1/20/2022 7:51 am : link
In comment 15561742 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
Cale Makar > Adam Fox


Maybe - maybe not. It is a lot closer than an absolute determination. Both are great. Rangers fans love Fox because of the story from Jericho, NY and him being a fan. I am not questioning your hockey prowess pj.
You better believe we are  
RobCrossRiver56 : 1/20/2022 7:55 am : link
Gerard Gallant is a God...
RE: RE: RE: Damn right we are  
pjcas18 : 1/20/2022 8:00 am : link
In comment 15561746 Drewcon40 said:
Quote:
In comment 15561742 pjcas18 said:


Quote:


Cale Makar > Adam Fox



Maybe - maybe not. It is a lot closer than an absolute determination. Both are great. Rangers fans love Fox because of the story from Jericho, NY and him being a fan. I am not questioning your hockey prowess pj.


Of course it's an opinion, lol. sorry to mean to seem like I am the end all be all source of who is good at hockey. This group of Rangers fans on here knows their shit.

That said, I don't think it's close with Makar and anyone right now. I think Fox is fantastic, a great skater, passer, shooter, smart two-way defenseman who should be a #1 D/ team captain for a decade.

I think Makar is Bobby Orr.
Cale Makar Spins And Pulls Off Incredible Deke For OT Winner  
Ira : 1/20/2022 8:07 am : link
.
Link - ( New Window )
The Rangers have a well balanced team. I don't believe Igor is the  
Ira : 1/20/2022 8:11 am : link
best goalie in the league, but he's close. I believe Makar is better than Fox, but Fox is still excellent. Panarin, Z, Kreider etc aren't the best forwards, but they're very good.
RE: RE: Damn right we are  
Anakim : 1/20/2022 8:13 am : link
In comment 15561742 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
In comment 15561727 Anakim said:


Quote:


We have the top goalie in the NHL, the top defenseman in the NHL, excellent special teams, a 1C...

Not a perfect team by any means, but this team could make noise. The Trade Deadline should be very interesting.



Cale Makar > Adam Fox


1 and 1A, Mr. Contrarian
I remember a lot of people here believed Drury had set the rebuild  
rnargi : 1/20/2022 8:15 am : link
Back by several years. Some felt he'd destroyed the team.
RE: You better believe we are  
mfsd : 1/20/2022 8:17 am : link
In comment 15561752 RobCrossRiver56 said:
Quote:
Gerard Gallant is a God...


For the most part they play smarter hockey than in recent years. Still prone to some lapses, but overall much more consistent. And Gallant’s handled injury plus Covid absences really well

Igor looks amazing. Last night was like Hank in his prime - seemed like the Leafs may have scored 8 of not for him standing on his head
Well I do believe  
pjcas18 : 1/20/2022 8:18 am : link
the Rangers are legitimate contenders and in my pre-season thread I mentioned several "hockey pundits" (including jfresh) picked the Rangers for the SC.

And that opinion was mocked incessantly on here. None of you believe they were contenders, most thought fringe playoff team.

I do also think they need to make some deadline moves.

I think they need another veteran D, and a top 9 forward - I don't get as hung up on top 6 vs top 9 as some people, but I think they need another F.

See how Georgiev holds up, but maybe a backup G.

that's not a lot to add (for an average deadline)
RE: RE: RE: RE: Damn right we are  
Drewcon40 : 1/20/2022 8:19 am : link
In comment 15561754 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
That said, I don't think it's close with Makar and anyone right now. I think Fox is fantastic, a great skater, passer, shooter, smart two-way defenseman who should be a #1 D/ team captain for a decade.

I think Makar is Bobby Orr.


Makar is on my fantasy team so I hope both have great years. Bobby Orr? That's it? You didn't want to aim higher? Like the greatest defenseman EVER!

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Damn right we are  
pjcas18 : 1/20/2022 8:22 am : link
In comment 15561768 Drewcon40 said:
Quote:
In comment 15561754 pjcas18 said:


Quote:


That said, I don't think it's close with Makar and anyone right now. I think Fox is fantastic, a great skater, passer, shooter, smart two-way defenseman who should be a #1 D/ team captain for a decade.

I think Makar is Bobby Orr.



Makar is on my fantasy team so I hope both have great years. Bobby Orr? That's it? You didn't want to aim higher? Like the greatest defenseman EVER!



LOL, I know it seems outlandish, but do you watch Makar skate? He's like McDavid but on D.

I was watching the Av's game last night and in a pre-game interview with Gretzky, MacKinnon compared Makar to Paul Coffey.

So, Orr, Coffey, whatever, I won't bicker, I love watching him play, he's the best skater I have ever seen on the blue line. Ever.

I know those are a lot of superlatives for a 23 year old, but that's my opinion.
they have as good a chance as anyone  
bigbluehoya : 1/20/2022 8:27 am : link
but the East is going to be an absolute gauntlet.

There are going to be some legitimate "contenders" gone in the first and second round.
And I think Fox  
pjcas18 : 1/20/2022 8:28 am : link
is a lot like Leetch (and Leetch is just a few years older than me) - I grew up in Hamden, CT, Leetch is from Cheshire - bordering town and he has a younger brother my age - so I watched Leetch from the time he was a teen - through Avon Old Farms, BC - USA Olympic teams/World Cups - Rangers, etc. I was always proud of Leetch and consider him "one of us" growing up.

When he won Conn Smythe as you'd drive down Whitney Ave from Hamden into Cheshire there was a sign "Welcome to Cheshire, home of Brian Leetch 1993-1994 Conn Smythe winner" - he was kind of a big deal/legend in my area.

I see a lot of similarities with Fox and Leetch.

Yes, but...  
rsjem1979 : 1/20/2022 8:38 am : link
They need to have ultra elite goaltending. Right now they are getting it, Igor has a .938 save percentage which is absurd.

They aren't great 5-on-5, and if the goaltending slips even a little bit in the playoffs when you're likely to have fewer PP opportunities, their margin for error is very slim.
tomorrow night....big game....bring it!  
Jints in Carolina : 1/20/2022 8:43 am : link
NYR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  
Devour the Day : 1/20/2022 9:06 am : link
It has been a joy to watch this team this year. Are we there yet .....we are close and its definitely looking up. We are legit and those top teams better respect the NYR. We are not perfect but have pieces in place, play with grit, have fun and seem to care about one another as a team. Love Gallant (we can only hope the Giants get a equivalent in the fold this year). Enjoy the ride. LGR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why not The Rangers!  
George from PA : 1/20/2022 9:12 am : link
Hot goaltender

Solid defense

Can score early and often


Need to win more faceoffs
RE: they have as good a chance as anyone  
Anakim : 1/20/2022 9:17 am : link
In comment 15561789 bigbluehoya said:
Quote:
but the East is going to be an absolute gauntlet.

There are going to be some legitimate "contenders" gone in the first and second round.


Tomorrow should be an excellent test. The Carolina Rangers.

I think I read somewhere that the Rangers are 17-3 against Eastern Conf. teams.
RE: tomorrow night....big game....bring it!  
Bones : 1/20/2022 9:27 am : link
In comment 15561806 Jints in Carolina said:
Quote:


I’ll be in Raleigh for the game Friday night. Seems like every time I have Canes/Ranger tickets there is a winter storm to contend with.
While I believe the Rangers can be competitive in the playoffs, their defense is not good enough. Miller makes a lot of mental errors, and even Trouba is good for a couple a game. The third pair is a work in progress to say the least and how many stupid penalties does Strome make a game?
And yes PJ, Makar is better than Fox, but He’s not Bobby Orr, at least not yet in my opinion.

I hope so, but I am a little skeptical about them against good teams  
Essex : 1/20/2022 9:29 am : link
still. Last night was certainly a deviation from the formula, when we went to 2-0 and then 3-1 I was like here we go again, but the game was such a pleasant surprise. The East is brutal, but I love what I see so far.
Ryan Reaves is the great-great-great-grandson of Bass Reeves,  
Ira : 1/20/2022 9:33 am : link
the first black lawman west of the Mississippi River. Bass served as a deputy U.S. marshal in Fort Smith, Arkansas under the direction of judge Isaac Parker, known as the "Hanging Judge". Some think he was the inspiration for tv's The Lone Ranger.
Link - ( New Window )
I put Fox ahead of Makar because I think his defense is much better  
Greg from LI : 1/20/2022 9:36 am : link
I honestly don't think Makar is better than average in his own end. Fox isn't a physical D, but his positioning is excellent and his stickwork is phenomenal.

As far as the Rangers being contenders....I don't think they're quite there yet. They just don't generate enough 5v5 offense. You can't rely on the power play so heavily in the playoffs.
RE: I remember a lot of people here believed Drury had set the rebuild  
TheBlueprintNC : 1/20/2022 9:45 am : link
In comment 15561764 rnargi said:
Quote:
Back by several years. Some felt he'd destroyed the team.


Yup -gonba bring in goons, trade away the talent etc etc

MEanwhile Reeves Gallant etc etc Great job
Not yet but they are progressing in that direction  
arniefez : 1/20/2022 9:47 am : link
I think there are still key pieces missing. They need more force on the blue line and they need a real two way 3C but they most importantly IMO need a breakout top 6 RW that will help Bread and Mika (different lines I know) from disappearing against the good teams. I don't know enough about hockey you explain it but the Rangers top 6 doesn't seem to be able to force their game on the good teams. They seem to be shut down way too often.
pjcas18  
arniefez : 1/20/2022 9:54 am : link
expand more on the Fox/Leetch conversation please. I'm curious why you say that. It seems to me that Leetch was a faster more dynamic player and stronger too. Fox looks ordinary to me skill wise but he has an extra ordinary hockey sense. From my totally untrained eye elite rare hockey sense, certainly not Gretzky level but Gretzky like. He sees plays way early. He just knows where to be and where the puck needs to be. Like a 6th sense. Leetch always reminded me of a 2 way Paul Coffey. Rare talent and skill level.
They are, but  
LoveFootball : 1/20/2022 9:58 am : link
Drury will have to add some pieces to put us in prime position to win it all. A Pavelski type, maybe a veteran offensive d man.......such a magical time to be alive!

The trade deadline should be as fascinating as any in recent memory now that the virus scam is slowly winding down. Now who told us the virus would simply vanish again?
RE: RE: I remember a lot of people here believed Drury had set the rebuild  
bigbluehoya : 1/20/2022 10:00 am : link
In comment 15561910 TheBlueprintNC said:
Quote:
In comment 15561764 rnargi said:


Quote:


Back by several years. Some felt he'd destroyed the team.



Yup -gonba bring in goons, trade away the talent etc etc

MEanwhile Reeves Gallant etc etc Great job


I am told that this is the best the locker room has been since the cup run.
You can defend Drury  
Anakim : 1/20/2022 10:01 am : link
But the Buchnevich trade was and still is inexcusable. Imagine how much better we’d be off if Drury got reasonable, if not fair, value for a first-line PPG winger like Buch.
RE: pjcas18  
Snablats : 1/20/2022 10:03 am : link
In comment 15561933 arniefez said:
Quote:
expand more on the Fox/Leetch conversation please. I'm curious why you say that. It seems to me that Leetch was a faster more dynamic player and stronger too. Fox looks ordinary to me skill wise but he has an extra ordinary hockey sense. From my totally untrained eye elite rare hockey sense, certainly not Gretzky level but Gretzky like. He sees plays way early. He just knows where to be and where the puck needs to be. Like a 6th sense. Leetch always reminded me of a 2 way Paul Coffey. Rare talent and skill level.

Fox benefits from today's lack of physical play and rules compared to Leetch. It was a much tougher game in Leetch's day, so Leetch had to fight through that and play more physically on defense than Fox has to do
They are :(  
Mike in Long Beach : 1/20/2022 10:10 am : link
.
RE: They are :(  
Anakim : 1/20/2022 10:12 am : link
In comment 15561972 Mike in Long Beach said:
Quote:
.


Not too late to consider (…again) switching your allegiance
That’s how you do it  
Anakim : 1/20/2022 10:23 am : link
#NYR  are now 17-3 in conference play. The three losses were the shit show opening night, a 2-1 L in Toronto and a 4-3 L in Florida.

They've got two wins over TOR, two over TB, one over FL, one over BOS...Metro games will be ultimate test but they're downright crushing the East.
RE: pjcas18  
pjcas18 : 1/20/2022 10:26 am : link
In comment 15561933 arniefez said:
Quote:
expand more on the Fox/Leetch conversation please. I'm curious why you say that. It seems to me that Leetch was a faster more dynamic player and stronger too. Fox looks ordinary to me skill wise but he has an extra ordinary hockey sense. From my totally untrained eye elite rare hockey sense, certainly not Gretzky level but Gretzky like. He sees plays way early. He just knows where to be and where the puck needs to be. Like a 6th sense. Leetch always reminded me of a 2 way Paul Coffey. Rare talent and skill level.


I viewed Leetch that same way - just a smart heady player. Yes, he could skate like the wind, I remember around draft time he was heralded as the best skater this side of Moscow, but I never thought Leetch was Coffey level (or a Makar level skater)

I don't think Leetch had a particularly great shot, I don't think he was terribly physical, but he was good at all those things (shooting, playing physical when he had to), etc.

I see many of those same traits in Fox.
they need to be better 5v5  
bigbluehoya : 1/20/2022 10:27 am : link
right now they are exceling on both sides of special teams, which is great. But those numbers likely regress a little bit, and they are below league average at full strength.

No apologies for any of it, it isn't smoke and mirrors, but an area for improvement.

They should be aggressive at the deadline, IMO.

Why would you be concerned about a 5 game series where every  
BestFeature : 1/20/2022 10:29 am : link
series is 7 games?
RE: You can defend Drury  
Dankbeerman : 1/20/2022 10:30 am : link
In comment 15561955 Anakim said:
Quote:
But the Buchnevich trade was and still is inexcusable. Imagine how much better we’d be off if Drury got reasonable, if not fair, value for a first-line PPG winger like Buch.


People get hung up on the fact that he had to moved and dont look at the fact that the return was bad.

He should have been moved at the deadline last year and my bigest question is if Drury would have done sonif he was in charge then.
They're crushing the east  
Greg from LI : 1/20/2022 10:31 am : link
But they've played a pretty weak conference schedule so far. Haven't played Carolina, haven't played Pittsburgh, only played one game against Washington. Some very tough games yet to come.
Never understood the Buch trade BUT yea the Rangers are serious  
Rick in Dallas : 1/20/2022 10:35 am : link
contenders in the playoffs. I have seen teams in the past ride hot goaltending deep into the playoffs.
Shesterkin has played awesome this year. Concerned about Miller's sophomore slump on defense this year. I actually think Nemeth has been a plus on the blue line so far this year. I wish the defense was more physical.
I wish the Rangers were deeper on offense on at least the top 3 lines. Kakko and Laffy need to be more productive IMHO. 4th line is fine.
Having said all that they can make a deep run in the playoffs this year.
Leetch was a very good skater, but not great like a Coffey  
Greg from LI : 1/20/2022 10:35 am : link
Average skating is Fox's one weakness.

As I remember it, Leetch had a good shot until he hurt his shoulder. He couldn't even attempt a slap shot after that.
RE: You can defend Drury  
rsjem1979 : 1/20/2022 10:36 am : link
In comment 15561955 Anakim said:
Quote:
But the Buchnevich trade was and still is inexcusable. Imagine how much better we’d be off if Drury got reasonable, if not fair, value for a first-line PPG winger like Buch.


Agreed. And since it's pretty widely accepted that the Rangers need another top-6 winger, I feel is appropriate to point out that we had that very thing and gave him away for nothing.

Buch is a point per game player who kills penalties and is a steal at $5.8 million AAV.

We'll see how good a job Drury did if the goaltending slips from "historically awesome" to just plain old "great" and there isn't enough scoring depth at 5-on-5 to generate goals in the playoffs.
RE: I put Fox ahead of Makar because I think his defense is much better  
pjcas18 : 1/20/2022 10:36 am : link
In comment 15561881 Greg from LI said:
Quote:
I honestly don't think Makar is better than average in his own end. Fox isn't a physical D, but his positioning is excellent and his stickwork is phenomenal.

As far as the Rangers being contenders....I don't think they're quite there yet. They just don't generate enough 5v5 offense. You can't rely on the power play so heavily in the playoffs.


What exactly do you mean by in his own end?

I don't think I've seen a better defenseman with zone exits than Makar. He's not a net front presence, but I'm ok with that. I am not suggesting don't pay attention to defense I think you know me well enough by now and I think Trouba gets a bad rap by NYR fans because he's incredible at net front presence (underrated since it doesn't show up on the stat sheet), etc but the point of the game is to score and I don't remember ever seeing a D with the combined skill, instincts, and intelligence that Makar has.

Maybe this is a Peyton vs Brady debate where at some point Peyton's inflated offense loses out to Brady's all around game and championships (with Peyton being Makar and Brady being Fox), but that's what I see today.

Fox impresses me often, but Makar does things in a game that has been played for over 100 years that I have never seen anyone else do.

I don't think there is a loser in this discussion.

no loser at all  
Greg from LI : 1/20/2022 10:41 am : link
Makar is a sensational player.

I just don't think he's as good with his stick as Fox is, so he doesn't steal the puck as much. Doesn't block as many shots - yeah, I know, you don't have a Makar on your team to block shots, but Fox does it more than most scoring defensemen do. Fox's positioning on defense is rock solid.

I will freely admit that there is undoubtedly bias to this. Not necessarily because I'm a Ranger fan, but for the simple fact that I watch Fox play all the time and Makar only occasionally.
They need Laf and KK to step up  
Vanzetti : 1/20/2022 10:42 am : link
I don't see any acquisition being discussed that would alter the trajectory of the team.

Like I said at the time  
Anakim : 1/20/2022 10:45 am : link
It wasn’t so much that they traded Buch. I understood why. They wanted to give consistent top-6 minutes to Laf and Kakko. I get that.


But Drury got so little for him. I mean it was pathetic. I’m not sure what happened. I guess he way overvalued Blais (who is a fine bottom-six player when healthy) and the only way the Blues would let him go is if Drury overpaid? IDK, but I still can’t make sense of that trade. Just horrible value.
i don't see how you can say they aren't contenders  
djm : 1/20/2022 10:48 am : link
they win almost every night and the wins don't look accidental even if they get outshot. The Rangers are winning on the backs of multiple super stars. That's contending.

See you all in April and May. Buckle up.
RE: They need Laf and KK to step up  
Anakim : 1/20/2022 10:48 am : link
In comment 15562079 Vanzetti said:
Quote:
I don't see any acquisition being discussed that would alter the trajectory of the team.


True, but I could see acquiring someone like Hertl or Kessel as masking some of Kakko and Laf’s flaws. Kakko has been fine defensively and he’s very good at puck possession, but he’s just not scoring. I think if you put Hertl and Kessel on the Kreider/Zibanejad line, it would be much better.


And I think Chytil is overrated. Good skater, but myopic vision, okay talent and terrible finisher.
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